As Cersie Lannister says in the midst of “A Game of Thrones,” “When you play the game of thrones, you either win or you die.”
After completing the first novel in the now renowned series, I can safely assert that there is no losing when it comes to diving into this immersive series, although be prepared for plenty of death.
As a disclaimer, I approached the first novel in George R.R. Martin’s series “A Song of Ice and Fire” after watching the entire HBO series. After completing the first seven seasons, I was prepared for a rehash of what I had witnessed in the show’s inaugural episodes.
Instead, I was treated to an immersive experience that by far shattered my expectations.
As with any great fantasy novel, the core of storytelling lies within building a world the readers can firmly plant their feet in. “Harry Potter” and the “Lord of the Rings” might prove as the best examples of this, with their stories giving the audience a slightly twisted version of our own world, complete with different languages and history ripe for discovery at the turn of a page.
Martin’s work just might take the cake when it comes to building a world. As he says in his acknowledgements, the devil is in the details, and there is no shortage of details in “A Game of Thrones.”
Sitting at more than 800 pages, “A Game of Thrones” is no casual read. The epic tale centers around the Starks, a royal family that rules over the northern portion of seven kingdoms. The Starks, along with the Lannisters, Baratheons and Targaryens, are the four major players in the lengthy tale.
In a world where seasons can last decades, the entire kingdom is preparing for the arrival of winter, with the first three families mentioned above struggling to keep the peace among themselves. Meanwhile, the Targaryens, an exiled family that once ruled over the kingdoms, plans their revenge from afar.
As each family fights for power, the narrative is constantly changing perspectives, from the head of the Stark family, Eddard, to his illegitimate son Jon, and then back to the dwarf Lannister son Tyrion before zooming across the continent to the last surviving Targaryen, Daenerys.
This is where Martin’s writing really shines. While each chapter tells a story from a different character’s perspective, there is no hint of Martin himself. His voice disappears with each perspective, and instead the reader is treated to a chapter that genuinely feels like the voice of a unique character.
Eight characters comprise the core storytellers in “A Game of Thrones,” and each has their own unique way of conveying the action to the reader. Whether it’s Tyrion’s snarky misdeeds, or Eddard’s noble adventures, each chapter provides another layer to an already dense novel.
So be prepared. Set aside a least a month to make your way through an enchanting first installment of a winning series. Don’t just settle for the HBO adaption. While the show might prove useful in envisioning some of the characters, it pales in comparison to the fully fleshed out world Martin has created.
Brandon Hill can be reached at [email protected]